Bizav Flight Activity Rises, Part 91 Up by 10 Percent

Overall business aircraft flight activity climbed 4.4 percent last month year-over-year, bolstered by a double-digit-percent resurgence in Part 91 corporate operations, according to TraqPak data released today by aviation services company Argus. Part 91 flying climbed 10 percent in December compared with the same month in 2009, which followed a year-over-year 12.2-percent increase in November. Fractional flying in December rose by a more modest 2.6 percent, while Part 135 charter activity slipped by 2.4 percent from the year-ago period. By aircraft category, midsize jet activity again led the pack with a 6.5-percent year-over-year increase, followed by large-cabin jets, up 4.4 percent; turboprops, 3.8 percent; and light jets, 3.5 percent. Among individual market segments, fractional turboprop flying soared by a healthy 15.1 percent, thanks in large part to Piaggio Avanti fractional provider Avantair. Turboprop and light jet activity at Part 91 operators also climbed by double-digits–11.1 and 11 percent, respectively. Argusπs TraqPak data "is serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S."